A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FINANCE BURSAR Ammaarah Gangat

Ammaarah Gangat is from Volksrust in Mpumalanga. She completed her secondary education at Volksrust High School. She also completed her undergraduate degree at Wits in 2021. She now works as a trainee accountant in the Management Accounting section and completing her postgraduate studies part-time through Milpark Business School.

When did you join the company?

I started working in Johannesburg Water part-time in 2019 where I used to do vacation work as a bursar during June and December holidays. I started fulfilling my service obligation and working full-time on 10 January 2022 which is for a period of three years.

When you were young, what did you want to be?

When I was young my dream job was to be a chartered accountant (CA).

What is your job now and how long have you been doing this job?

I work as a trainee accountant and it has been one year and six months.

Why did you decide to pursue this career?

I want to become a CA as I have an interest in accounting. CA is an excellent professional course that will help me polish my skills and make a career in the field, which excites me the most. I want to enhance my experience on how businesses work and regarding my industry standards. Pursuing CA is full of challenges, and I love challenges, and it also aligns with my long-term goals. The chartered accountancy qualification opens the door to a vast range of exciting career opportunities.

What kind of education and/or training did your career require?

To qualify as a CA one needs to complete a BCom Accounting degree, Postgraduate diploma in Accounting and three years of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) articles which provide aspiring CAs (SA) the ability to develop professional competence while applying technical knowledge in a practical work environment. There are two board exams: Initial Test of Competence (ITC) and Assessment of professional Competence (APC) that need to be completed to qualify as a CA.

What skills are required in your daily work?

The ability to analyze data, time management skills, as well as written and verbal communication skills.

Do you mostly work alone or with others?

I mostly work with others.

Have you faced any challenges in your role? How did you resolve them?

It is challenging coming out of university and starting a full-time job. However, I’ve managed to adjust with the support and advice I’ve received from my colleagues at work.

What is a typical day like in your role?

I start my day with a hot cup of coffee, I then do tasks assigned to me by my manager. During my lunch breaks I go to pray, get fresh air in our beautiful garden at work, chat to my colleagues and eat. After work I go home and take a walk around my complex and look at the beautiful view and sunset (P.S I love taking pictures of the sunset). I then prepare my supper and start studying.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The environment in which I work. My colleagues are always very helpful and understanding. They’re always willing to assist in areas which I find challenging.

What is the hardest part of your job?

So far its manageable, but having deadlines is the most challenging part especially if we don’t manage our time effectively to complete our work and meet deadlines.

What advice would you give to those who aspire to work in your role?

Always ask questions if you don’t understand your work, try not to rush as you will make mistakes, always be calm and take each day and each task as it comes.

What is your favourite quote?

It always seems impossible until it’s done. - Nelson Mandela